Mclennan Leads Club Pro Event

Local Golf

Stan McLennan shot an even-par 72 in gusting winds Monday to take the first-round lead in the Connecticut Section PGA Club Professional Championship at Bull's Bridge Golf Club in Kent.

McLennan, of Suffield Country Club, is three ahead of Pat Aldrich (Sharon CC) and Tony Kelley (Wyckoff CC-Holyoke, Mass.). A seven-way tie for fourth at 76 includes section championship winner Mike Carney (Watertown GC) and five-time player of the year Fran Marrello (Canaan CC).

Marrello is the only player who can prevent Kevin Giancola from winning a third straight player of the year award. Marrello would have to win today and have Giancola finish worse than 21st. Giancola, from Golf Quest in Southington, shot 78 and is tied for 14th.

The winner earns $2,500, and the top four qualify for the 2006 PGA of America's CPC June 22-25 at Atunyote GC and Shenendoah GC in Verona, N.Y.

Hartford Golf Club pros Gary Reynolds and George Connor and John Nowobilski of Tallwood Country Club in Hebron received the section's President's Award for their fundraising efforts. Connor and Reynolds each played 327 holes on June 20 in an annual marathon in which Hartford club members pledged donations for each hole played and the number of birdies each pro made. Nowobilski organized and conducted the Harry Nowobilski Memorial Celebrity Amateur Golf Tournament in memory of his father.